Bifidobacterium lactis (B. lactis) is a multipurpose probiotic bacterium that lives in the intestines. It is a powerful strain that has been proven to fight tumor growth, improve digestion and improve immune system functions. B. lactis is also responsible for breaking down body waste and aiding in the absorption of vitamins and minerals in the intestines.
Wait, it can fight tumors?
That’s right! According to some studies, B. lactis has been proven to effectively fight against cancerous tumors. It does this by increasing tumor activity (in other words, actively killing tumors) in the body. 1 It has also been shown to have potential preventive effects for colitis-associated cancer, and has been shown to provide healing effects for inflammatory bowel disease. 2
B. lactis also serves other important functions in regulating the immune system. It can help reduce the frequency and severity of respiratory illnesses. In addition, it has been shown to increase the immune response to vaccination in infants of mothers exposed to B. lactis during pregnancy. 3 In other words, these infants become more protected by the vaccine faster than infants without B. lactis supplementation.
B. lactis improves digestive conditions in the body
B. lactis is responsible for improving overall digestive health and comfort through a number of important functions. One of the more subtle benefits it has is reducing leaky gut. This means that B. lactis makes it difficult for foreign materials to pass through the intestinal wall and into the rest of the body. By reducing permeability, B. lactis is able to maintain a tighter leash on what foreign matter does in the rest of the body and reduces the risk of harmful conditions, such as NEC and autoimmune diseases. 4
B. lactis has been shown to offer numerous other digestive benefits as well. It has been shown to reduce the toxic effects of gluten on the intestinal mucosa and could be involved in the prevention of celiac disease. 5 Like B. bifidum and L. rhamnosus GG , B. lactis has been shown to aid lactose digestion in lactose intolerant individuals. It is also an integral factor in supporting the overall digestion of sugar, fiber and macronutrients, and is partly responsible for the absorption of vitamins and minerals in the intestines.
B. lactis is not a one-trick pony
In addition to fighting tumors, strengthening the immune system and helping the digestive system, B. lactis can play a significant role in fighting allergies, preventing eczema, helping with high cholesterol, breaking down body waste and normalizing blood sugar levels. It offers a wide range of health benefits for children and adults, but is not guaranteed to be naturally present in healthy levels. It’s important to supplement with probiotics to ensure your gut is getting the right balance of healthy bacteria it needs. Look for this strain when buying your next probiotic .
References
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15542102/
- https://academic.oup.com/ibdjournal/article/16/9/1514/4628438
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2222.2008.03061.x
- https://ajp.amjpathol.org/article/S0002-9440(13)00097-7/fulltext
- journals.plos.org/plosone/article/asset?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0016169.PDF
Additional sources
- Waller PA, Gopal PK, Leyer GJ, et al. Dose-response effect of Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 on whole gut transit time and functional gastrointestinal symptoms in adults. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. 2011;46(9):1057-1064. doi:10.3109/00365521.2011.584895
- Whorwell PJ. Do Probiotics Improve Symptoms in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology. 2009;2(4 Suppl):37-44. doi:10.1177/1756283X09335637.
- Tabbers MM, Chmielewska A, Roseboom MG, et al. Effect of the consumption of a fermented dairy product containing Bifidobacterium lactis DN-173 010 on constipation in childhood: a multicenter randomized controlled trial (NTRTC: 1571). BMC Pediatrics. 2009; 9:22. doi:10.1186/1471-2431-9-22.
- Chouraqui et al. Acidified milk formula supplemented with Bifidobacterium lactis: impact on infant diarrhea in residential care settings. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2004 Mar;38(3):288-92
